Movies

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Rick: Now that I’ve fallen ill (*grumbles*), I’ll have to wait and see this when I’m healthy. So, I guess I won’t be on the internet for like a week…

Jen: DUH!

Collateral Beauty

Loren: I’m good. It’s like one of those holiday movies (Love Actually, New Years Eve) but with Tragic Circumstances being the holiday.

RDT: I saw this and Jen and Rick are both 100% right with what they said below. It’s cloying, manipulative, Oscar bait. It’s also predictable as hell (as I said on Facebook “It’s the moviest movie that ever movied”). And I desperately wanted to hate it. But the cast and the performances really elevate the writing (which is not good). What we got is not good, but there is a good movie in there somewhere.

Rick: Is it “Will Smith Wants An Oscar” season already? Pass.

Jen: Can we have an adult drama that doesn’t deal with someone’s kid dying? It seems the in thing, of late, to define your protagonist by the loss of their child. I find it cheap, manipulative, and, yes, painful. Move on Hollywood.

A Kind of Murder (Limited)

Loren: Ooooh a 60’s era murder mystery. I may not be in for this in the theater but if it pops up on my radar again I’ll check it out.

RDT: Yeah, what Loren said.

Rick: I enjoy me a good murder mystery, particularly one originally penned by Patricia Highsmith. Count me in.

Jen: I love the Mad Men feel of this. And to be fair, I’d probably want to kill Jessica Biel too. Sorry JT.

Neruda (Limited)

Loren: I won’t lie to you guys, I’m never going to see this movie. It doesn’t look bad, but it’s not for me.

RDT: Imagine a page. On it stands Loren. Shortly after, I join him,

Rick: This one feels like it’s worth seeing in a theater. *adds to list*

Jen: This looks fantastic, I might actually check this out before I see Jackie.

Solace (Limited)

Loren: This looks like a movie that I would have been SO INTO in the late 90’s. Now, it just seems formulaic and a bit trite. I’m giving this a solid MEH.

RDT: Interesting bit of trivia, this was originally written as a sequel to Seven. I have nothing else to say about this movie.

Rick: So…It’s Seven mixed with a lot of elements from the Hannibal TV series. The only thing keeping me from calling this a complete waste is the cast. I’ll wait for reviews.

Jen: I read the log line: “The reclusive Clancy, who shuttered his practice and retreated from the world following the death of his daughter…” Come on, Hollywood you’re just proving my point here. Although Colin Farrell looks really hot, so that’s a bonus…

Fences (NY/LA)

Loren: Hey! I live in one of those cities! The performances look stellar, but this looks a little too heartbreaking for my personal taste.

RDT: I will definitely see this, eventually.

Rick: Here’s all the monies. Need tickets, please.

Jen: There is some ACTING happening here. At least, from what I can tell, no one’s child dies in this.

TV/Netflix/Blu-Ray

Barry (Netflix)

Loren: I like this take on a Biopic, focusing on Barack Obama’s younger life and the struggles he dealt with. I hope they handle it well.

RDT: I’ll throw it in my queue, sure. Not sure it’ll ever make it to the top, though.

Rick: This is the second Barack Obama-focused feature this year (everyone remember Southside With You? Anyone? Came out in August?), and this looks leagues better. Not sure I’ll take the time to watch it, but I appreciate upping the content/production value this time around.

Jen: I could give this a whirl if it’s not too preachy…

White Rabbit Project (Netflix)

Loren: I watched the first episode the other day, it’s pretty ok. Totally background television.

RDT: So apparently I’m behind the curve on this. I do have laundry to do in the next few days….

Rick: I’m not opposed to more Mythbusters antics. It’s good to throw on the background while I fold laundry.

Jen: Hey, I already watched 2 episodes of this and I liked it! Kari, Tory, and Grant were my favorite part of Mythbusters so I’m more than happy to watch them do the same exact thing on Netflix.

So that’s your upcoming weekend in review. Let us know what you saw, liked and/or hated.